Obama distinguishes hacking from surveillance

RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. (AP) — President Barack Obama says it is important to distinguish between cyberattacks from China and the U.S. Internet counterterrorism surveillance program. He says the U.S. intelligence-gathering effort is limited but has broad implications for society.

Obama made his remarks following a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping (shee jihn-peeng), as both men took a limited number of questions at the start of two days of talks at a desert estate.

Obama said it was important to strike a balance between identifying potential terrorists and preserving the openness and the power of the Internet.